Even if we’re both animals, we and other species have split ways a long, long time ago. After all, they’re animals, and we’re humans. However, sex remains our only way to procreate, even if we enjoy it on a whole other level aside from making babies.
But what does enjoying it on a different level mean anyway? Well, it means we like to get freaky and include certain quirks, kinks, and fetishes to maximize our overall sexual satisfaction. We like to suck on each other’s genitals and toes, play roles, and wear unusual outfits while doing so.
On the other hand, animals don’t have that. Their goal is to pass their genes. Nevertheless, some of them are pretty odd while doing it, so allow us to introduce you to some of the most bizarre sex habits of animals worldwide.
Banana Slugs
Up to almost 10 inches (ca. 25 cm) long, banana slugs are one of the slowest animals on the planet. They average only 6 inches (ca. 15 cm) per minute. However, their slow speed and banana color aren’t the most fascinating facts about them. They are very weird and bizarre when it comes to making love with their species.
Slugs, as we all know, move around by sliding down a trail of slime. But when it’s mating season, they tend to make things more interesting. Namely, they release pheromones into their slime, leaving messages for potential partners to follow and hook up. We guess you can say they have a primitive yet effective dating network at their disposal.
When it comes to sex in animals, slugs being hermaphroditic is one of the most well-known facts. That means they have both a penis and a vagina. However, their penis is as large as the rest of their body. They literally penis-slap each other, exchanging sperm for hours. After the deed is over, they remain all sticky in a pool of their love liquid and part ways, both pregnant.
Short-Nosed Fruit Bats
Next up, we have short-nosed fruit bats and their promiscuous sex life. Both in captivity and in nature, the males enjoy having harems. However, it’s not just about the number of ladies they can gather to serve as their concubines. They create shelters — tents made from leaves — which their mating partners inhabit.
However, hospitality isn’t what makes these short-nosed rascals among our animals with unusual sex habits. They are here due to their love of oral sex. Both males and females love to lick each other’s genitals before penetration begins. But once it does, it’s nothing special; it’s just like we do it — plow, plow, plow. Still, after it’s over, males lick their penises for a couple of seconds, and it’s back to other activities like hanging upside down.
Short-Beaked Echidna
Tachyglossues aculeatus is the name of some of the weirdest yet cutest mammals in Australia. As if the country-continent wasn’t full of cute little animals, short-beaked echidnas are some of the loveliest. However, they aren’t here due to their looks. We included them because of their pervy mating habits.
You don’t have to be a creep to know about the sleeper fetish. Yep, some men and women enjoy watching porn that depicts one partner sleeping while the other takes advantage of them. But, hey! It’s all fiction. They are acting. Nevertheless, it’s not the case for short-beaked echidnas. Due to strong male competition, some literally take advantage of females when they are hibernating.
Dana Octopus Squids
Dana octopus squids are large fellas. They have eight tentacles and are pinkish in color. Yet, this is not as important for this article. The reason why they are here is because of their sexual behavior. In essence, it all comes down to shiny neon and seductive disco lights, just like in Saturday Night Fever.
Dana octopus squids have numerous spots on their bellies and beneath the eyes, which shine to indicate whether they are of the same species and sexually mature. Once they recognize each other, males and females start to intertwine around each other with their tentacles. If you watch some videos of it, you’ll see how agile they are.
Anglerfish
Scientific literature is full of talk about anglerfish. However, the reason science writers of National Geographic and other titles are so fascinated with them is the difference between male and female anglerfish. Namely, when scientists would capture this species to learn more about them, they would only find females with no hunks around. But it wasn’t until some more inspection that they would understand what was at play.
Anglerfish are usually surrounded by tiny parasites. But unlike with other animals, these parasites are actually male anglerfish. Due to their unique evolution, males are reduced to nothing more than mere fragments of their females. They can’t survive alone, so they attach to large females, sharing nutrition and sperm. It’s a weird scene, but it’s mutually beneficial, making anglerfish more than rightful participants on this list.
Female Japanese Macaques
One of the oddest sexual behaviors on this list belongs to female Japanese macaques. What makes these primates so unique is that their ladies enjoy interspecial sex — not with other primates, but with sika deer.
The idea behind this is that scientists believe that these female macaques mount deer to rub their genitals and enjoy sexual stimulation. But deer don’t do this for free, you see. Macaques leave fruits to groom them, so we can say it’s mutually beneficial.
Great Bowerbirds
Lastly, we need to talk about the great bowerbirds. In case you were thinking about how humans are the only species who have artistic skills, you are wrong. Not only are male bowerbirds artistic and creative, but they use it to flirt with their ladies. Namely, they gather all sorts of colorful debris, including man-made stuff like rifle shells and broken glass, and place it in their bowers.
These bowers are some sort of love shrines that are open for investigation for the females. Depending on how colorful and epic the bower is, the female will decide whether they will stay there and mate with the artist. But once the deed is over, the lady will leave, allowing the male bowerbird to start preparing his shrine all over for the new season.